Pressure Cooker Basic Crio Bru Recipe

Pressure Cooker AKA Instant Pot Crio Bru is a healthy, chocolaty drink that will make good days awesome and bad days all better (no promises! Just a personal point of view people!). If you’ve never had it before, prepare to have your world rocked!

For those of you concerned that I haven’t talked about Crio Bru for awhile (what’s it been, a week!?), no need to worry, our relationship is still strong and only getting stronger as we tackle the waves of marriage, children, endless summer heat, and writing cookbooks with Cami-who is so demanding of my time! (I kid, I text her questions every 20 minutes).

To prove my undying love, I’m not only giving you my Basic Crio Bru recipe, but I’m also teaming up with Crio Bru to give some lucky person a super awesome Crio Bru package of goodies! What does that package of goodies include pray tell? Like, basically gold, but here’s the details.

There may be some of you in a dizzy right now, that have no idea what Crio Bru is, but WANT IT NOW! I understand. Let me tell you a bit more about Crio Bruas you gaze upon this glistening cup of beauty.

Crio Bru is roasted and ground cocoa beans that can be brewed the same way coffee is, but is absolutely nothing like coffee. Crio Bru contains little to no caffeine so you will not experience jittery side effects and sleeplessness. What it does contain is theobromine which works with your body to provide a gentle boost that won’t lead to a crash later in the day.

But most importantly to me, Crio Bru is chocolate in its purest form and is absolutely delicious. When I decided to take a course a few years ago called Go Sugar Free, Crio Bru is what got me through. I drink it unsweetened with almond milk and my kids drink it with just a touch of maple syrup.

I’ve been asked several times for my basic Crio Bru recipe, so here it is! If you want to play with different flavors here’s Peppermint, Pumpkin Spice, and even a Frosty version.

To enter this giveaway just leave a comment below telling me your favorite chocolate flavor combinations. I’m looking for some new potential Crio Bru flavors here! I CAN’T WAIT FOR YOUR IDEAS! Your reward will be more chocolate. What more could you ever want? I will announce the winner September 21st.

Instructions

When cooking is complete, use a natural release for 10 minutes and then release any remaining pressure.

Place a fine mesh sieveover a bowl and pour Crio Bru through the sieve to filter out the grounds. Be careful! The Crio Bru will be VERY hot.

Serve immediately with a Frozen Whipped Cream Dollop or pour into 2 quart size Mason jars, top with a pourable lid, and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy cold or pour into a microwave safe mug and warm for 1-2 minutes.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

What a cute picture of that sweet girl! I know you have already done it, but I can’t get over chocolate and peppermint. Have you ever done like a chili pepper crio Bru like those Mexican chocolate bars? Maybe that would be gross…. But just a thought?

This sounds amazing. I just got my instant pot and am surprised at how versatile it is. I would never have thought to brew up a yummy chocolate drink in it. My favorite chocolate combo is chocolate with sea salt and caramel.

My favorite so far is the peppermint crio bru, but I also really love chocolate and peanut butter too. Quite honestly, I am a crui bru junkie and enjoy all of the flavors–plain and flavored. I would suggested a chocolate mint to another alternative too!

Oh my!!! I am not a coffee drinker, and I love chocolate! I think I need this! Chocolate mint, chocolate caramel, chocolate peanut butter, just plain chocolate! My dad is allergic to chocolate, horrors I know, so growing up we didn’t have chocolate a lot. I think that fueled my love affair with it.

This looks so good! I’m a sucker for chocolate peppermint cocoa. I’d make this and add my homemade peppermint marshmallows. I do love chocolate peanut butter too, so maybe something g frozen in in the ice cream maker for that. My wheels are spinning now. 😊

Love your article, I’m excited to try this in my InstaPot! I’m a huge hazelnut fan. Anytime I stop at a chocolate shop I look for hazelnut chocolates. I don’t usually drink coffee, but on a rare occasion, it’s a hazelnut latte for me. So of course, I’m going for for a hazelnut flavored chocolate drink!

I love chocolate. The more the better. I like macadamia and coconut combo with chocolate. I also like red velvet with any sort of combo. (Coconut, macadamia). Cherry and vanilla cream, blueberry and vanilla cream. Love flavored whip cream or just plain. Just think all chocolate should have whip cream on it.😛😜😋. And the peanut butter post absoultly

This is going to be an amazing experiment. I can’t even settle one one favorite. Hazelnut or almond are up there on the list but often find myself being a plain Jane. No offense to anyone named Jane! What do the kids like?

came across this magic a couple years ago, but used my french press. Never considered using the IP, I bet that would bring our a much deeper flavor. Choc and almond is good, I might consider using some Vanilla Bean Paste with my first try though—that stuff is wonderful in anything I put it in

I love crio bru and drink it every single day!! I keep them in business:) I love chocolate and peanut butter or chocolate with something salty! I’d love to try crio bru with a toasted coconut flavor!!! Whip cream to top it off!

Hi Marci! Stumbled upon your giveaway on the Crio Bru insta. You have some awesome things going on here!! Congrats on your cook book! I am obsessed with Crio Bru, and I love a chocolate and coconut combo in the summer, and chocolate and peppermint in the winter 🙂

I never knew what crio Bru was until I saw your recipes all the time! I finally decided I have to try this if she is bragging it up so much! My first bag came in the mail yesterday! So this weekend when it’s high 80s here I’m going to try it. Why couldn’t it come when it was 50 degrees here! I love a good hot cocoa mixed with a little French vanilla creamer. Chocolate with mint, chocolate with peanut butter! I can’t just have chocolate sorry. Needs some better flavor! Or hazelnut! So many options I’ll be following you whole your create the next thing I can drool over until I finally decided to make it!

Hi! I found your recipe on the instant Pot community. Now I am so intrigued to try this drink! I love coffeee but would like an alternative from time to time. What better than with chocolate? My fave flavors are dulce de leche or even tres leches! Would love to see that in a recipe! Thx for the chance.

Crio Bru is my favorite!!! I always made mine in a french press, but I’m going to have to try this for sure. I’m ready for my world to be rocked!!!!
What about chocolate and orange?!?!
All the other responses sound delicious too!

I love to dip pineapple 🍍 in chocolate!! Wonder how I could try to flavor the crio bru with pineapple?? Also, ❤️ love crio bru and bought the 3 qt IP so I can set it and have it ready for me in the morning. So excited!!

I bought a sample pack of Crio Bru after reading your earlier posts. I’ve only tried it in the french press but will definitely have to try it in my Instant Pot. I drank it plan (no creamer or sweetener) but loved how choclately it smelled.

I drink hot chocolate year round and my favorite way is super dark with cinnamon and cayenne pepper! I’ve heard of Crio Bru and thought I would probably love it, but was deterred from trying it because I don’t have a french press. And lo and behold, I found your blog and your recipe for the Instant Pot–which I have! Yay! I’m so excited to try Crio Bru now! Thank you for sharing!

I would love to try this! I had never heard of it before I started reading your blog. I hope I win! My favorite chocolate flavor combination is Chocolate & Peppermint. I wait for Trader Joe’s to get their Peppermint Hot Cocoa, and Peppermint Joe Joe’s in every year, and then I stock up.
Chocolate & Cinnamon is also really good. I add cinnamon whenever I make Texas Sheet Cake, and it adds a great depth of flavor.

This particularly intrigues me as I am not supposed to have caffeine..but love chocolate! The best comco cookies I’ve ever had was white chocolate and macadamia nut..wonder if that would work? Or salted caramel 🙂

I prefer the Light Roast, the French Roast was a bit strong for me, but my sister Cami loves that one. If you’re a coffee drinker, I think you’ll love the flavor of the French Roast. You really can’t go wrong!

I ordered five bags of Crio Bru from Amazon after one of your posts about this marvelous beverage! I’ve been making it in my French Press but will try the pressure cooker method. I made it with our favorite French Roast ground coffee beans for breakfast yesterday-a lovely beverage on this nearly-autumn morning! Since raspberries are my favorite chocolate pairing, I’m wondering about adding fresh raspberries to the pressure cooker and straining them out along with the Crio Bru grounds when ready!

You probably got suggestions for my fave combos like chocolate & coffee, or chocolate & cayenne/chili… I’m not sure if this would work in a drink, or if anyone suggested it, but what about chocolate and bacon??

I have become “addicted” to Crio Bru this summer. My favorite way to drink it is over ice with coconut milk and maple syrup. I’ve tried mixing the Ghana and Maya roasts, and this last time I added just a little ground coffee to the mix. One of my favorite chocolate/something combinations is chocolate/cherries. I’m not sure how this would be in a Crio Bru roast, but it’s always a good combo, as is chocolate/ginger.

My absolute favorite combination is sea salted caramel with dark chocolate. The sugar from the caramel brings the bitterness down and creates the perfect (for me) dark chocolate taste. I like mine between 75%-80% dark.

Oh wow! This looks great! I’m going to have to add some to my shopping cart! I personally think that the flavor combinations of chocolate and cherry, chocolate and caramel (or salted caramel), chocolate and raspberry or chocolate and red chili would all be amazing.

I literally just ordered a french press yesterday to try out Crio Bru for the first time! Gaahhh…I had no idea my Instant Pot would work! I am so excited to try this stuff as I am a hot chocolate LOVER and need something healtheir and better for my family. I love chocolate with orange, almond, mint, and caramel. I haven’t tried these but I have heard of pairing it with lavender, coconut, hazlenut, and ginger as well. Mmmmmm….

Oh my, the possibilities! I’ve been wanting to try Crio Brew for awhile now and think that seeing the FB post that led me to your page must a sign to stop procrastinating and order some NOW!

All kidding aside, I am the epitome of a chocoholic, especially dark chocolate, and if it contains nuts (hazelnuts, almonds macadamias, etc., etc.) or if it’s complemented by raspberry, blood orange, or Mexican chilis, then COUNT ME IN!

I think any of these suggestions would make awesome flavor combos. Thanks for the post. BTW, the pic of your little one is adorable!

Two of my favorite things to combine with chocolate are orange or cherry. I have seen ads for Crio Bru online but have yet to try it because it’s a bit expensive. If I love it I wouldn’t mind paying for it but my pantry is filled with things I’ve tried that just don’t cut it. The passion you write about it with has me even more intrigued! I have been looking for something to satisfy cravings for chocolate to help me lose some weight and get healthier. Could Crio Bru be my solution? I’d love to find out!

My husband and I LOVE Crio Bru! And this is by far his favorite flavor. We have always made it in our French press and have found the longer we let it brew the better the flavor. Needless to say, we are constrantly finding ourselves waiting way longer than we want to to enjoy our favorite drink together. I had never thought about porting it in my Insta-pot!!! I think you just changed our lives!!

As for one of my favorite pairings (I love vcocolate with everything) in my crio when I’m feeling fancy, or need something to soothe my tummy, I’ll put a couple drops of peppermint essential oil into my cup before pouring in the crio. It’s so good! And I’ve found with the peppermint it has a natural sweetness and often doesn’t need (as much) sweetener. Try it!

I cannot believe I haven’t heard if this before. I am currently working on my first round of Whole30 and missing coffee a bit. This could be a good sub. I am thinking that chocolate mint would be lovely as fall deepens.

I am all about Mexican hot chocolate. Which means cinnamon and cayenne, baby! Another favorite is nutmeg – I add it to my cold brew or French press. I’ve got to dig up some Crio Bru for my DF teen. It would make him so happy!

This sounds delicious. I love all chocolate, but my current obsession is blueberries and chocolate!
Is there a reason you don’t put the grounds in some sort of device? A nut milk bag, tea strainer, or cheese cloth so you don’t have to strain it?

Hi Marci! I’ve been enjoying Crio Bru for a few years now, and am really thrilled to have found your instant pot method. After three broken french presses over the years, I’m happily enjoying my much richer and creamier version in my IP thanks to you! All the recipes I’ve tried from you have been a huge hit actually, and I hope you continue to enjoy the success you deserve with your site and your book, which I’m hoping to get a hard copy of soon. As for combinations, I love chocolate with salt, or cayenne, or macadamia nut. I’m a sucker for the rich sweet/savory combo. Thanks 🙂

My go-to mix is French Vanilla sugar-free, Coffee Mate non-dairy creamer in cocoa or milk.
My grandkids refer to it as “Yummy milk.” You don’t need much to improve the flavor of so many things. I specify that brand because the vanilla is MUCH better than so many others and it only takes a little.

I absolutely live crio bru I’ve been drinking it for years!!! I have it every morning and night with some coffee creamer, I just switch up creamer flavors. I’m super excited to try the IP. I’d love some free Crio as I’m practically going broke with my habit😁

Chocolate and caramel! I am so intrigued by this- I love chocolate but it doesn’t always love me! Same with coffee. Caffeine makes my heart go wonky! Would love to try an alternative and see how it effects me!

Chocolate with fruit flavors is at the top of my list, especially chocolate with raspberry and chocolate with orange. Mmmmmm. Oh, and win or lose, you’ve convinced me that Crio Bru is something I must try!

This sounds amazing, I can’t wait to try some. I love simple chocolate but there is something amazing about a chocolate butterscotch combination. I adore a bit of butterscotch schnapps stitred into hot chocolate… I bet this would be even better!

Red wine!!! Oh wait–did you mean with Crio Bru or just chocolate? Well, either way… 😉
My favorite chocolate pairings are peanut butter, orange and mint. But I bet Crio Bru with a small bit of Nutella stirred in would be quite yummy as well! I like mine personally with a couple drops of peppermint essential oil and a bit of milk. MMMmmmmmm!!!! I had not heard of it before your downloadable recipe book, so thank you for introducing me. After this post I may have to try some new ideas! Can’t wait, especially with Fall coming.

Oh my goodness, chocolate and salted caramel, chocolate and peanut butter, chocolate and mint… I could wax poetic all day about chocolate pairings! I love them all. Thank you for doing a giveaway. I’m so excited to try Crio Bru, especially now that I’m finally brave enough to use my Instant Pot, thanks to your recipes and guidance.

Chocolate n orange is divine! I make orange creme truffles around Christmastime covered in chocolate, they are my most popular truffle flavor!!I’m intrigued with the insta pot n it’s on my list for Christmas…

Seconding (thirding, fifthing, tenthing? I didn’t read all the comments) Chocolate and orange together, always reminds me of Christmas, perhaps with a touch of cloves like a Christmas pomander ball. Mmmmm!

Love chocolate . Period. Love chocolate and almonds or childcare with pretty much any nut. Love chocolate and cinnamon.
*I LOVE SMORES. So you should figure out how to make that flavor so that I can have my summer love all year long!*
I’ve never had crio bru and was actually looking for it at the grocery store last night because of how much you guys rave bout it but I couldn’t find it. Where do you get it?

I love chocolate and orange. I also love Crio Bru, but have not tried it in my Instapot and now I’m so excited to do so! I wonder how orange peel would be, since you’d strain it out at the end? Or just orange extract.

Anything chocolate and cinnamon are my favorite combination. I have never heard of Crio bru before but would love to get started with it. I’m NOT a coffee drinker, but trying to eat healthy AND have chocolate sounds amazing!!

I’ve seriously never met a chocolate combo I didn’t like! But, my all time favorite is amaretto and chocolate! As a non alcohol drinker I usually just settle for almond extract. But, it just occurred to me that I could but an amaretto syrup!

Marci! I’ve ordered and am getting everything to do yogurt this week!!! Crío Bru is NEXT on the list!! Before I changed my eating habits I LOVED those round chocolate balls that you smacked and they broke into slices. (It’s been so long I don’t remember the name) Anyway! My fav was the orange and chocolate one. That would be my suggestion for a flavor of Crío Bru. 😀👍🏻😊👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻🍫

I keep hearing about this stuff and can’t wait to try it!! I love chocolate! Like obsessed with good chocolate! Chocolate and PB or almond and chocolate and strawberries are some of my Favs! Thanks for this recipe!

Thank you! I bought Crio Bru because I love love chocolate but have been clueless about actually brewing it! Gonna put it in the IP right now. As to your question/ contest: chocolate and hazelnut , chocolate and vanilla, or white chocolate combined with the Crio Bru. Hope I win!!!!!

I haven’t heard of Crio Bru until recently, and now am obsessed to try it. Chocolate by itself would be nice but adding some peppermint would be Christmas in the pot. Sounds yummy. I can’t wait to try it.

Chocolate and peanut butter, chocolate and caramel, and chocolate and orange are my favorite combos. But really, chocolate goes with pretty much anything. Thanks for the chance to win! I’ve never had Crio Bru, but would love to try some.

I purchased the pumpkin flavored and made it following your recipe. I found the flavor very weak. I made it in the Instant pot. Next time I will add a cup less of water and hopefully I will find it more to my liking. Thanks.

I had never heard of this until you posted on the IP Community Page. I have been looking for a way to cut back on my caffeine and I may have just found it. I kind of like my chocolate as is. Maybe a touch of whipped cream 🙂

I’m thinking I need to give this a shot. I have a bag of Crio Bru and a French Press but I never use it because the French Press…
And my first flavor experiment will definitely be orange. Like those chocolate oranges at Christmas.

I love a bit of cinnamon in my hot chocolate.
I love choc and peanut butter, dark chocolate and almonds, chocolate and toffee, chocolate and coconut….maybe it would be easier to list what I don’t like with chocolate.

I haven’t had the pleasure of trying Crío Bru just yet but that’s about to change because it sounds awesomely delicious! I bet chocolate caramel would be out of this world, as would be chocolate marshmallow smores!

I am not a super chocolate person, nor do I drink coffee, but this looks amazing!!! I am thinking Crio Bru with mint, or chili peppers would be intriguing. Perhaps some cherries for a Black Forest treat. XOXO

I have never had Crio Bru. In fact, I had never even heard of it until I read about it on your blog. I really want some now! I love chocolate, but I don’t love cofee. I think I may buy some tonight!! Which flavor? I have no idea. How can you go wrong with chocolate!!??

Beckie, well I did go wrong with chocolate once as a kid when I ate a spoonful of cocoa powder…😊. I would start with Ghana Light. The Peppermint is also a favorite (usually only a seasonal flavor) and Maya is amazing if you like a spicy kick.

Hi,
My favorite combo is chocolate and raspberry. It is a lovely combination just before bed or after shoveling that first winter snow. I am intrigued by the idea of an electric pressure cooker; I have always used my ancient Presto on the stove.

I’ve never heard of Crio Bru until I saw your post a couple of days ago. I bought some yesterday at a local health food store, and made it this morning in my Instant Pot. It was good, but it kind of tasted “watered down”. I made it exactly how you did, except I used agave instead of the maple syrup. I think next time I will try like half the water…?

Bonnie, It is more watered down compared to traditional hot chocolate. But it definitely has a chocolate flavor. It’s more of a drink you’d drink everyday, any time of day, vs hot chocolate as dessert. Does that make any sense? My sister does 2 cups milk and 2 cups of water to make if a bit less watery, you could try that. What kind of Crio Bru did you get?

Hi there! If I wanted to use dairy instead of the almond milk would I just use the recommended amount of water and add the dairy as I drink it? Or just substitute 2 additional cups of water in the brewing process? Thanks!!

Jen, I drink it without any sweetener. I wouldn’t say everyone would love it like that, but I adore it this way! Coconut milk and almond milk are my favorite milk to brew it with. My kids love it with a bit of maple syrup.

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Welcome! I’m Marci, wife to my motorcycle dream man and mother of 3. I have a passion for creating and cooking delicious masterpieces in my kitchen and am ecstatic to share my discoveries on TIDBITS! I like my food tasty, wholesome, memorable, and always, ALWAYS followed by dark, salty chocolate.

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